At 8 a.m., Natalie and Jade raced off together from the starting point of a path. Natalie ran at an average speed of 2 m/s. Jade ran at an average speed of 3 m/s. Upon reaching the end of the path, Jade rested for 5 minutes. She then immediately ran back along the same route at 3 m/s. At 8.25 a.m., Natalie met Jade.

1. Find the total distance covered by the two runners when they met each other. Express your answer in km.
2. Find the length of the trail in km.

(a)
From 8 a.m. to 8.25 a.m. = 25 min

Duration that Natalie ran = 25 min
Duration that Jade ran = 25 -  5 = 20 min

1 min = 60 s

20 min = 20 x 60 = 1200 s
25 min = 25 x 60 = 1500 s

Distance that Natalie ran
= 2 x 1500
= 3000 m

Distance that Jade ran
= 3 x 1200
= 3600 m

Distance that Natalie and Jade ran
= 3000 + 3600
= 6600 m

1000 m = 1 km

6600 m = 6600 ÷ 1000 = 6.6 km

(b)
Length of the trail
= 6.6 ÷ 2
= 3.3 km

Answer(s): (a) 6.6 km; (b) 3.3 km